SEMI Advocates Bold Action to Expand U.S. Solar Manufacturing

SEMI Advocates Bold Action to Expand U.S. Solar Manufacturing

The SEMI PV Group recently released a
white paper entitled “Manufacturing Solar Photovoltaic Products in the U.S.,” which
contains specific policy recommendations to stimulate and support the growth of
the U.S. solar manufacturing industry. The report is authored by the SEMI
PV Group and North American PV Advisory Council which is comprised of
representatives from leading solar companies with manufacturing operations in
the United States and other industry leaders.

Today’s approximately $80 billion
global solar industry has the potential to grow to a trillion dollars in
revenues and create as many as 10 million jobs worldwide in the coming
years. According to the SEMI white paper, the number of jobs that will
reside in the United States will be dependent on responsible, sustained public
policies and government programs that support manufacturing and technology
development. There is a necessity for U.S. economic development programs that
are designed to retain, attract and increase manufacturing output and
employment involved in the rapidly growing photovoltaic (PV) solar industry.

“Despite a significant contraction
in the global PV market this year, solar is at the beginning of long-term
growth cycle and will be a major contributor to energy independence and help
the U.S. to break from its reliance on fossil fuels,” said Bettina Weiss,
executive director, SEMI Photovoltaics Business Unit, “However, in order to
achieve this, we must implement policies that work in support of a balanced
demand and supply relationship within the solar industry and other renewable
energy industries as well.”

The report recommends the following
policy positions for federal and state policy makers: